Soldered condenser

Abstract

The invention relates to a soldered condenser for a motor vehicle air conditioning unit, comprising a pipe/rib block, collector pipes which are arranged on both sides thereof and receive the ends of the pipes, and a collector which is arranged parallel to one of the collector pipes, fluidically connected to the adjacent collector pipe via two openings and receives a dryer/filter cartridge. The collector (1) is provided with a first soldered sealing part (5) to which the dryer/filter cartridge is mechanically connected. A second sealing part (6) is nondetachably connected to the collector (1, 4).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a soldered / brazed condenser of the general type disclosed by EP 0 867 670 A2.[0002]In the known condenser, after the soldering / brazing process the dryer / filter cartridge is moved into the collector, positioned there and the collector is then closed in a pressure-tight fashion by a screwed connection. Since the dryer / filter cartridge is not subjected to the high temperatures of the soldering / brazing process, it is constructed from plastic and connected to the closure lid by a clip connection, and as a result the dryer / filter cartridge can, on the one hand, be mounted together with the closure lid, but, in the case of a repair or servicing, it can also be replaced together with the closure lid.[0003]The design and the function of such a condenser are described more precisely in DE-A 42 38 853.[0004]In the course of the development of such a soldered / brazed coolant condenser, EP-A 1 079 186 has already proposed a nonreplaceable ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The object of the present invention is to improve a condenser of the type mentioned at the beginning to the effect that it can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively and its function is not adversely affected, in particular with respect to drying and filtering.

[0006]The means of achieving this object comprises a condenser for a motor vehicle air-conditioning system, comprising a block of finned tubes, header tubes which are arranged on opposing sides of the tube block and which receive the respective ends of the finned tubes, a collector which is arranged in parallel with a first one of the header tubes and which is in fluid communication with said first header tube, and a dryer / filter cartridge positioned inside of the collector, wherein the collector comprises a first soldered-in closure part non-detachably closing a first end of the collector, wherein the dryer / filter cartridge is mechanically connected to the first closure part, and wherein the collector comprises a second closure part non-detachably connected to and closing the second end of the collector. The advantage of this combination of features for a dryer / filter cartridge which cannot be replaced is that, firstly, an inexpensive plastic housing can be used for the dryer / filter cartridge, that the tube for the collector can be manufactured from a simple semifinished tube without additional processing, and that the dryer / filter cartridge is securely positioned and attached in the collector so that its satisfactory function is ensured for the drying of the coolant and the filtering.

[0007]Further advantageous refinements of the invention are disclosed. Here, the attachment of the dryer / filter cartridge by means of a clip connection at the bottom is advantageous in that a first metallic part of this clip connection, an armature part, is already present in finished form by virtue of the soldering / brazing process of the condenser. The dryer / filter cartridge, which is manufactured from plastic and is provided with latching elements which are formed integrally on the bottom by injection molding, merely has to be pushed into the collector pipe and clipped to the bottom. This results in a simple and uncomplicated mounting which in turn reduces the manufacturing costs. After the dryer / filter cartridge has been mounted and attached in the collector, the latter is closed by inserting and soldering the cover plate, for example, by soft-soldering. However, the closing process can also be carried out by means of a different nondetachable materially joined connection, for example, welding or bonding, calking or flanging.

[0008]In a further refinement of the invention, a method is advantageous which includes cost-effective mounting and the manufacture by oven-brazing, clipping and closing the container in three successive method steps. This method also contributes to reducing the manufacturing costs.

Problems solved by technology

This results in a simple and uncomplicated mounting which in turn reduces the manufacturing costs.

Images